First Posted: 3/17/2015
LIMA — April Shattuck has noticed something about children’s birthday parties and how they’re changing.
“I think it’s competition between parents,” she wrote on The Lima News’ Facebook page. “Who can throw the biggest, most elaborate party for their child?”
In the past few years, and even months, children’s birthday parties have gotten increasingly more extravagant and some say it’s because their parents are trying to outdo each other.
“People try to almost outshine everyone else,” said Kirstene Adkins, owner of Art Me!, a company based in Ottawa that does face painting for parties and other events. She’s noticed that parental competition at children’s birthday parties “keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
Pinterest and other crafting sites may have something to do with it, Adkins said.
“Everybody is sharing what you can do,” she said.
She also attributes part of the reason for the increasing intricacy to movies such as “Frozen” and the use of themes.
“Over the last few years with more kids’ movies coming out and them just having more interest in the movies” there’s more movie-themed parties, said Kangaroo Cave Manager Aubrey Williams. She’s seen Frozen, Ninja Turtles and Iron Man-themed parties.
At the Delphos venue people often bring in their own decorations for parties, she said.
“People definitely like bringing in their own decorations and really making sure they’re personalized to the kid rather than maybe just having a pinata,” Williams said.
Williams has also seen an increase in booking, as has Britney McElroy, manager at Chuck E. Cheese’s in Lima.
They’re “having them away from the house and just not wanting to have all that clean up,” Williams said.
In the past few months, Chuck E. Cheese’s has had 10 to 15 parties a day on the weekends, McElroy said.
At Grove Skating in Columbus Grove, the past few months have been busy — Manager Jessi Smith has noticed people are bringing more decorations and hosting more parties.
“People go all out,” Smith said.
While people have started to bring more decorations, what the skating rink offers hasn’t changed.
“We’ve kind of been about the same for a while,” Smith said. “We just really focus on good service. We have a lot of people who return.”
Returning customers is also a trend at Varsity Lanes in St. Marys.
“I think in this area most people know it’s here and available to them,” said Jay Gibson, president and owner. “I think most of it is word of mouth.”
Gibson hasn’t seen much of a change in how parties are hosted and said the number of parties hosted at the bowling alley has been steady.
“We kind of do the same thing we’ve done all along,” he said.
People will bring in ice cream, cake and the occasional balloon bouquet, but most don’t go all out with children’s parties at the venue, he said.
If parents aren’t hosting their children’s parties at a venue, they still may be much different than in the past.
“Used to be kids used their imaginations, had fun making decorations with their parents and the food,” wrote Dawn Renee Neumeier on The Lima News’ Facebook. “Played games like Simon says, Pin the tail, or just made up their own. Now it’s bought decorations, bought food, and bought games. What it simply comes down to, is kids are spoiled, and parents are lazy!”
